From DJ nights and new brunches, to afternoon teas, spring fairs and scavenger hunts, here are the best things to do in London this Easter bank holiday 2023.

1 BucketRace Easter Hunt, across London

Compete against other teams while searching for riddles, clues and chocolate around iconic London landmarks and sites. You'll compete tasks and challenges issued by email and text to unlock bonus points. Don't forget to don your best Easter fancy dress too. 

Date: Saturday, April 8

Time: 12pm-4pm

Tickets: From £15, group and family tickets available

Address: Start at Golden Square, Brewer Street Soho, W1F 9HR

Website: designmynight.com

2 Bunny Hunt at Hampton Court Palace

Suitable for families with children aged three to 12 years-old, the Lindt gold bunny trail is back, providing an ideal opportunity for families to run amok around the 60 acre ground on the quests to find the hidden bunny statues. In order to find the bunnies, you'll have to solve puzzles and at the end of the trail, you'll be rewarded with a delicious Lindt chocolate bunny to eat.

Date: April 1-16

Time: 10am-5.20pm

Tickets: Included in entry, from £26.30/£13.10 adult/child

Address: Hampton Court Way, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU

Website: hrp.org.uk

3 London Easter 10K Run, Regent's Park

Indulge in Easter treats guilt free with this 10k race (or the two-mile fun run) on your list of things to do. You'll run through all of Regent's Park splendour plus past the zoo, boating lake and down the park's Broad Walk. 

Date: Monday, April 10

Time: 10.30am, Children's Race at 10am

Tickets: Free but register on the website

Address: The Broad Walk, Regent's Park, NW1 4NP

Website: nice-work.org.uk

4 Handel's Messiah at The Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Choral Society will once again perform Handel's Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall. Somewhat of an Easter tradition, only the Blitz and Covid has stopped the choir, currently in its 150th anniversary season, from performing the Good Friday performance at the hall since 1876. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will accompany the 150-strong choir. 

Date: Friday, April 7

Time: 2.30pm

Tickets: From £24

Address: Kensington Gore, South Kensington SW7 2AP

Website: royalalberthall.com

5 Watch the Passion of Jesus, Trafalgar Square

For a really biblical moment, head down to Trafalgar Square to watch 100 performers re-enact Jesus' last days. The 90-minute show will run outdoors, and as it is a realistic interpretation of the crucifixion so parental guidance is advised. The performance will be British sign language interpreted and large screens will give you a good view of the action, no matter who is standing in front of you. 

Date: Friday, April 7

Time: 12pm and 3.15pm, it's advised to arrive 40 minutes in advance. 

Tickets: Free, unticketed. 

Address: Trafalgar​ Square

Website: wintershall.org.uk

6 Decimo at The Standard, King's Cross

Decimo, found on the 10th floor at The Standard, has a full day of music programming for both its lunch and dinner service on Easter Saturday, so you can feast on the likes of pork belly tacos, huevos a la lamenca - eggs with Morcilla and chickpeas, and squid skewers, while quaffing margaritas  and listening to tunes. For brunch, Decimo Triana Y Hermana Juana and Sour Sopp DJs will soundtrack service while come evening, one of resident DJs will play all night long.  Or try a roast instead.

Date: Saturday, April 8

Address: 10 Argyle Street, WC1H 8EG

Website: decimo.london

7 BBC Earth Experience, Earl's Court

Another immersive experience for London, and one that features Sir David Attenborough and footage – included extended scenes – from the magnificent Seven Worlds, One Planet series. Footage from the epic series is projected across multiple multi-angle screens so visitors immerse themselves in the natural world, while Attenborough’s narration guides guests through the seven continents and around the marvellous creatures that live there. Breakout areas offer deep dives into specific pockets of the natural world, including getting up close to (digital) creepy crawlies.

Tickets: From £28.50

Dates: Opens March 30

Address: The Daikin Centre Earl's Court SW6 1TR

Website: bbcearthexperience.com

8 Easter DJs at Caia, Notting Hill

Festivities kick off on bank holiday eve, with Next Door Records play in the Basement Room from 7pm to midnight, spinning tunes from across the decades. On the Friday, Pete Fowler – one half of music dup Seahawks and a popular Soho Radio DJ – steps behind the decks playing Balaeriac grooves, boogie and ambient jazz. Easter Saturday is an all day affair with CAia co-founder Tim Lang soundtracking the lunch service before Horse Meat Disco’s Severino brings the party from 9pm. As you feast on the good tunes playing, gorge yourself on natural wines, well mixed-cocktails and as many seasonal small plates as you like. DJs start at from 7pm and play till late.

Dates: April 6-9

Address: 46 Golborne Road W10 5PR

Website: caia.london

9 Shangri-La The Shard’s Spring Inspired Afternoon Tea, London Bridge

Swapping out the signature mini-Shard building for the tea’s sweet finale, this spring-themed afternoon tea will have a hand crafted white chocolate egg filled with passion fruit filling for the final note instead. Served with rosebud tea and finger sandwich classic such as coronation chicken, smoked salmon and cucumber, as well as truffle egg and cress, diners have to eat their way through a prawn cocktail with Marie Rose and beetroot hear with hibiscus powder, a selection of scones and even more floral desserts before tucking into that egg.

Dates: April 7-10

Cost: From £71 pp

Address: 31 St Thomas Street, SE1 9QU

Website: ting-shangri-la.com

10 The Lucky Club, Camden

Celebrating its reopening for the Easter Bank Holiday, The Lucky Club Camden will serve free bubbles to the first 100 guests booked in for the Easter weekend. The heated rooftop will also be supplying goodie bags, and a non-stop happy hour throughout the four day holiday. The cocktail list has been updated and new additions include frozen daiquiris, and the food menu has also had a revamp as well. Mexican street food is still on offer, but dishes now included loaded burritos, battered halloumi with Mexican slaw and chipotle mayo and the dirty vegan deep fried artichoke.

Dates: Reopens Thursday, April 6

Address: North Stables Yard, Camden Market, Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AH

Website: theluckyclub.com

11 Live Jazz at The Big Penny Social, Walthamstow

The big Blackhorse Beer Mile boozer welcomes Ronni Scott’s regulars The Rick Simpson Trio for a jazzy Easter Sunday session. The group will play contemporary and traditional soft jazz throughout the afternoon, for a chilled but enjoyable bank holiday. The place is massive too, so whether you want an inside spot, or chance the weather outside, you’re bound to bags a seat too – which is great if you’re heading over for a roast also.

Date: Sunday, April 9

Address: 1 Priestley Way, Walthamstow E17 6AL

Website: bigpennysocial.co.uk

12 Double Standard Brunch, King’s Cross

The Standard’s ground floor bar and terrace is popping on new Sunday brunch for the warm weather that comes with a DIY bloody Mary station so you can construct your perfect drink, adding the spices and garnishes as you see fit. The menu, which is designed to go with bottomless prosecco or the aforementioned Bloody Mary’s is made of British breakfast favourites and American classics – things like buttermilk chicken waffles, full English, short rib with mac n cheese, or caramelised banana, salted caramel ice cream with chocolate sauce waffles for something sweet.

Dates: Sunday from March 26, 12pm-4pm

Address: 10 Argyle Street, WC1H 8EG

Website: standardhotels.com

13 Now Play This at Somerset House

As part of the London Games Festival, Now Play This, a hands-on exhibition, showcases the latest in independent and experimental game design from around the world. This year’s theme is based on love, in its many iterations, through games, installations and workshops – you can discover a game played from the perspective of a cat tasked with cheering up its owner and a documentary captured through 3D scanning.

Date: April 1-9

Tickets: From £9/£6.50

Address: Somerset House, Strand, WC2R 1LA

Website: nowplaythis.net, somersethouse.org.uk

14 Aladdin Sane: 50 Years, Southbank Centre

This exhibition marks 50 years since Bowie made his iconic album, Aladdin Sane, with the iconic artwork, the lightning flash portrait. It’s curated by Geoffrey Marsh and Chris Duffy, son of photographer Brian Duffy who collaborated with Bowie to create the image. There’s also a gig with the likes of Anna Calvi and Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears covering the album, two queer club nights in Bowie’s honour and a night of poetry inspired by the album, so get amongst it.

Date: April 6 – May 28

Price: Events individually ticketed

Address:  Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XX

Website: southbankcentre.co.uk

 

15 Horniman Museum and Garden’s Spring Fair

This year’s fair will be compared by comedian Jasmin Gleeson, who will also host the Easter bonnet parade. There’s plenty of family and Easter fun to be had, including badge-making, Lindy hop workshop, giant Jenga, face-painting, live music and spring trail where you follow clues to find flags hidden across the gardens to win a prize – there’s lots of fun stuff. A wide range of food stalls will keep the hunger at bay.  

Date: Saturday, April 8

Time: 10.30am-4.30pm

Tickets: £5/£2.50, must be booked in advanced.

Website: horniman.ac.uk

It's still early days, this guide will be updated.